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American History & Civics · The naturalization civics test

Citizenship Test Practice

The official civics questions and answers from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), word for word. Study them by section with cards, take a mock interview that asks the questions out loud, and print the list.

Practice only. This page is made by Teddy Rook Book. It is not a USCIS page and is not connected with USCIS. On the real test a USCIS officer asks the questions out loud at your naturalization interview, and you answer out loud. Rules and answers can change, so check uscis.gov/citizenship before your interview.

Which version do you take?

USCIS uses the version that matches the date you filed Form N-400, the application for naturalization.

2025 version2008 version
Who takes itApplicants who file on or after October 20, 2025Applicants who filed before October 20, 2025
Questions to study128100
Questions askedUp to 20Up to 10
To pass12 correct6 correct
Age 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent residentStudy only the 20 questions marked with an asterisk (*). The officer asks 10 of them, and 6 correct passes. You may take the civics test in the language of your choice.
Practice with
0 known

Mark each card. “I knew it” counts it as known; “Still learning” puts it in the Still learning set. Your marks stay in this browser only.

How the civics test works

The civics test is part of the naturalization interview. The officer reads questions from the official list, and you answer out loud. Any answer on the list counts. USCIS says there may be other correct answers, but it encourages applicants to use the ones on the list. For questions such as “Name two…,” give that many answers.

Some answers change with elections and appointments: the names of the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice, and on the 2008 list the number of Supreme Court justices and the President’s party. Give the answer that is true on the day of your interview; USCIS keeps the current answers at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates. Other answers depend on where you live, such as your governor, your state capital, your U.S. senators and your U.S. representative. This page leaves all of these names out, because they change.

If you do not pass the civics test (or the English test) at the interview, USCIS gives you a second chance on the part you missed, usually 60 to 90 days later. Some applicants qualify for exceptions; USCIS explains them on its site.

The versions over time

  • October 1, 2008. A redesigned naturalization test took effect with a list of 100 civics questions. The officer asks up to 10, and 6 correct passes.
  • December 1, 2020. USCIS began a revised civics test with 128 questions, 20 asked and 12 correct to pass.
  • March 1, 2021. USCIS went back to the 2008 test. Applicants who had filed between December 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021, could choose either test if their first interview came before April 19, 2021.
  • October 20, 2025. The 2025 version, based on the 2020 test with changes, applies to applications filed on or after this date: 128 questions, up to 20 asked, 12 correct to pass. USCIS announced it on September 17, 2025. Applicants who filed before October 20, 2025, take the 2008 version.

People disagree about how hard the test should be. Some say a longer test better shows real knowledge of American government and history; others say the longer test adds a burden without telling much more about an applicant. This page takes no side; it helps you practice the version you will take.

Sources and how the lists were checked

The questions and answers are works of the U.S. government, which are in the public domain, and they appear here word for word, with the official numbering, section headings, asterisks and words in parentheses. Each list was transcribed from two separate copies, compared line by line by a script, and every difference was settled with a third look (transcribed 2026-10-26).

128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version)

Differences between the two copies and how they were settled (10)
  • Question 12: B (CitizenIQ) adds "Mixed economy"; a third read of the M-1778 PDF and lawfirm4immigrants.com list only "Capitalism" and "Free market economy".
  • Question 23: B shortens the official note; the M-1778 PDF (third read) has the bracketed note as in A.
  • Question 29: B shortens the official note; the M-1778 PDF (third read) has the bracketed note as in A.
  • Question 30: B names the current officeholder; the M-1778 PDF says to visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
  • Question 38: B names the current officeholder; the M-1778 PDF says to visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
  • Question 39: B names the current officeholder; the M-1778 PDF says to visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
  • Question 57: B names the current officeholder; the M-1778 PDF says to visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
  • Question 61: B drops the asterisk and rewrites the note; a third read of the M-1778 PDF and lawfirm4immigrants.com show the asterisk (20 starred questions) and the note as in A.
  • Question 62: B rewrites the note; the M-1778 PDF (third read) has the bracketed note as in A.
  • Question 120: B splits the bracketed note into separate answers; the M-1778 PDF (third read) prints it as a note after "Liberty Island".

Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version)

Differences between the two copies and how they were settled (8)
  • Question 28: B (M-638, 2011) names the officeholder of 2011; the current list (langula.app copy, confirmed by boundless.com and a quoted copy of the current list) says to visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
  • Question 29: As 28.
  • Question 39: B (2011) answers "nine (9)"; the current list says to visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the number of justices (confirmed by boundless.com and a quoted copy of the current list).
  • Question 40: As 28.
  • Question 46: As 28.
  • Question 47: As 28.
  • Question 51: B (2011) has "freedom of worship"; the current list has "freedom of religion" (confirmed by boundless.com).
  • Question 95: B (2011) lacks the bracketed note; the current list has it (confirmed by uscitizenpod.com, which quotes the list).

Rules and dates

Learn the ideas behind the answers in the course Citizenship Test: Government and Citizenship Test: History and Symbols.

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